Limerick Council launches Vacant Premises Rates Incentive Scheme to support job creation

LIMERICK City and County Council has launched a Vacant Premises Rates Incentive Scheme to aid regeneration of towns and villages and support job creation by viable businesses.

The scheme is in operation all year round and aims to be the most ambitious retail rates incentive scheme in the country.

This grant is intended to incentivise and encourage reoccupation of vacant retail/commercial properties to combat vacancy in the core retail area of the city centre and some county towns. Within the city centre, this pilot scheme will be available to new businesses who meet the eligibility criteria.

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The scheme will also be made available to new eligible businesses opening in the centre of towns within each of the three Municipal Districts of: Adare-Rathkeale, Cappamore-Kilmallock and Newcastle West. To qualify for the scheme the property must be vacant for a minimum of six months on the day the application form is submitted to Limerick Council.

Cllr Peter Doyle, chair of the Economic Development, Enterprise, Tourism and Planning SPC, said: “This new rates initiative reinforces our commitment to doing our utmost to support locally owned businesses.”

The grant is available where there is evidence of a full year’s rates payable to Limerick Council and Tax Clearance verification from Revenue.